The European Union faces numerous challenges. How it deals with terrorism, internal security threats and cyber crime, to name a few, is not only down to the union members but is influenced strongly by shifting alliances and changing transatlantic relations. What does the future hold and how should leaders in the bloc respond?
Adapting to a new world order
In this session, Robin Niblett, Director of Chatham House, points out that many of the organisations involved in guaranteeing security in Europe, including NATO, hark back to a different era. They were created for a very different purpose - the Cold War in the case of NATO - and now have to adapt to new challenges.
Margaret MacMillan from Oxford University offers a historical perspective on international bodies. She points out that the foundation of the Concert of Europe in the 19th century provided a stable order over an extended period of time. However, by 1914, people had forgotten why it was set up and some powers started to break ranks. She draws analogies to the current situation Europe is in.
“Perhaps we are at a moment now where we risk to break down that order.”
Strong international bodies needed
“In times of turmoil and uncertainty, we need strong international institutions,” counters Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO. He believes that his organisation is adapting to the new world order and associated challenges by becoming more proactive around the world - including in the Baltic states and the Middle East - and dealing with new types of threats, such as cyber attacks.
This includes 40 co-operative projects with the EU, as Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, remarks.
She highlights that European countries’ defence budgets are much less that that of the US. This is an area where she feels the EU has got a strong role to play in supporting its members through joint approaches.
One area where this has been done for many years is Europol, the European police agency. Rob Wainwright, its director, points to its close collaboration with the US and its increased use of technology and data to aggregate a much rounder picture than has previously been possible.
Europe needs to move closer together
Federica Mogherini adds that there are many more opportunities for Europe to work more closely together both internally and with international partners. She mentions that the tools and budgets are available to do much more in certain areas of defence. This should also involve the private sector as a way of creating jobs.
She believes that security and defence are areas where EU members stand to gain from coming closer together than has been happening to date.